NEUROPTEEA

295

stored in the mid-gut, and is evacuated in a mass during the
early part of imaginal life. There are eight Malpighian tubules,
and of these six have their distal ends united and lead to a
reservoir which communicates with the anus. At the end of
the larval period the greater part of each of the looped
Malpighian tubules becomes differentiated as a silk-secreting
gland, and the nuclei of the cells so specialized become ramified
as in true silk glands. The silk secreted collects in the reservoir
and is spun out through the anus when the cocoon is con-
structed. This structure is found in all the Neuroptem, and
although modification of the mouth-parts occur, the principle
is always the same.

The life-cycle varies considerably, but the larva is always
predaceous. There are three larval instars, except in Ithonidce
with five and Croce reported with two. A cocoon is spun by
the larva, and is usually remarkably small compared with
the size of the larva and of the emerging insect. The pupa
is quiescent, but all the limbs are freely movable in late
pupal life. It is provided with special mandibles with which
to cut its way out of the cocoon.

The order is wholly beneficial to man. This applies especially
to the Hemerobiidce, Coniopterygidce and Ghrysopidcc, which
check Aphids, Coccids, mites, etc.

Monographs on the families of the Neuroptera are mentioned
under each. A general classification is given by K,. J. Tillyard,
Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 1918.

In Britain we have representatives of Hcmcrobiidce, Sisyridce,
Coniopterygidce, Osmylidaz, and Chrysopidce. For accounts see
MacLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1868.

Moth lace-wings.
Stout-bodied insects with large heads, filamentous an-
tennae, and narrow equal wings.
The Ithonidce are native to Australia and Tasmania,
but have been introduced into New Zealand. These insects
(Plate III, Fig. 1) bear considerable resemblance to the
Hepialidce among moths, but no scales are present. They are